SS: Interpol (Part 31NEWWWW Pg. 53 Taj Mahal)

Prologue:

Imlie's hands shook as she hung up the call with Pari.

Yes, she was sure. Enough was enough. The rites of marriage did not trump the rights of a child. Malini Didi was the mother of this child, even if by force. That gave her the right to legal wife just like the family wanted. Where did any of that leave Imlie? What would the child think if he/she grew up under such confused circumstances? How could a child have two mothers in a Hindu household? It went against all the rules of nature. The baby would never live it down, just like Imlie could never live down the circumstances of her birth.

She could not retain her place in Babusahib's life only to have him lose respect in the eyes of society and his own child. It was not right, no matter how much he insisted that things will all fall back into place. The only place here was the child's and the mother's. This was now far beyond anything to do with who was Babusahib's wife. How Malini Didi made her new place here did not matter - not even to Babusahib, once he learned of the kid. That was correct. He never even believed he was assaulted by Malini Didi because that would blacken the vajood of the child. He doesn't want to even consider that he was assaulted anymore. He wants to forget it all and self-preserve.

What was right for the child is right for the family. As it should be. That was all now.

Imlie resolved that it was time to put an end to all this. She wanted Babusahib's future to be free, safe, and without any more jhanjhat. English Madam and Malini Didi would never stop throwing problems in their direction until she left. He didn't deserve this for trying to keep his word to her. There was only one solution. She must walk away for his sake and his soon-to-be family's. He might not understand, but even he would have to admit that it was right for the child. Their love could not trump the rights of his child. She could not abide the child being called illegal just because she was around in the same house as Babusahib's wife. This was never a feasible solution to have both her and Malini Didi in the same house. When she agreed to this arrangement, she thought about the child's rights to family, but she didn't think about how her being here can endanger that child's identity and self-worth. No, she must go.

Imlie took a deep breath as she went and knocked on Babusahib's door with a steely resolve.

Aditya looked up from his laptop: Arre, since when do you have to knock to come in? Aa jao.

Imlie stepped in.

Aditya noticed now and asked with concern: Why aren't you wearing your singar, Imlie?

Our story will follow 10 years later. This will be Imlie's journey to finding herself. I want to write a story deserving of Imlie because I don't believe she needs to fold herself into a thousand tiny folds to stay in that awful Tripathi house full of sexists. I think the older women in that house are full of hate and expectation toward a girl who did nothing to deserve it and they treat Aditya like a god because he's the son. I hate that kind of mentality. If you are interested in reading more about this, let me know. I want to know if there is any interest in this story before I invest more time in it.

It will still be a love story.

Part 1:

There was some kind of tone in his ears. Everything around him looked surreal.

Aditya looked at Imlie's eyes again as he took in the barrage of reasons she was giving for leaving their marriage, his home, everything. Her eyes. Something had gone cold there. He did not see the adoration-bordering-on-awe in her eyes that was always there even when he least deserved it. That realization chilled his bones. Was this the final straw? His girl, who had shown so much faith in him and been patient through all his mistakes, had he finally broken her? His eyes filled with tears.

Aditya struggled to speak: I left the decision to you whether Malini and the-the child can live in this house. If you are not happy with the arrangement, I can ask her to leave.

Imlie looked aghast: You are not listening! I said they can live here because the child needs a sense of belonging. The child does not have to suffer for the misdeeds of...of...

Aditya finished: The father.

Imlie, frustrated: The parents. The mother who forced herself upon you, particularly. But why would you believe that? She has been your friend for the better part of the last decade and I have to accept her place in your life just like I had to accept her as your wife, right? What are my words against hers? Or her mother's for that matter!? You have complicated and made a mess of everything long enough, but if you notice, I have been morally consistent and faithful to you throughout. Frankly, all of it was over as soon as you became the father, willingly or unwillingly, of another woman's child. I was an idiot for thinking I could make peace with it. I should have listened to Nani, but I tried, I really did. This past month, I have lived with sheer emotional violence in my head from everything Malini Didi put upon me and I can't take it anymore!!! I give up. She wins. I give up! I would only fight as long as our marriage stayed within the vows we made in our pheres about love, marriage, and fidelity. I cannot have a marriage with a man who is having a child with someone else, it goes against my faith and my vows.

Aditya looked on in shocked silence. Nishant was right, it was well within Imlie's rights to dump him. His worst fear had come to fruition.

Aditya: I only deleted the video because...

Imlie: I know, self-preservation and you wanted to spare the child. But it is not just that, is it Babusahib? Think for a second. If Malini Didi got pregnant with your child during your marriage, which was illegal by the way, I would still have to leave. There was only one way for this to end. I know our marriage was not your will, but you kept that secret from her. Now, she has snapped. But you don't see it. Our marriage might have been forced on you, but it was a religious marriage and you knew, you knew that it meant something even if you did not like it. I knew then that I would have no place in your life as you married again and I know now especially that you are having a kid. There is no going back anymore. We were fools to think we could.

Aditya, frustrated: And what about what happened in between? I admit, I made many mistakes. I asked for your and your family's forgiveness a hundred times, I asked forgiveness from Malini and her family. Your Dada tried to kill me and I said nothing because I deserved it. We made vows to each other that we would be together and there will be no one between us anymore. None of that matters!? I did not cheat on you, what happened that night was not consensual!

Imlie took a deep breath: I know, but none of it matters now. Don't you see? You cannot have two wives, one religious and another registered. She is your legal wife, about to become the mother of your child. She needs to stay your legal wife to legalize the child in society. Where does any of that leave me in the eyes of society? How does it look if I live in this house while this kid is growing up?

Aditya: You are my only WIFE! If anyone says otherwises, I will...

Imlie: You will do nothing. You will have no logical standing to do anything about it. I can either be your wife or your child can be legal. Only one of those things can happen. Since you left the decision to me this time, I have decided that the child must be legal. Don't make this harder for me than it has to be.

Aditya sank to his knees: And what about us?

Imlie, coldly: I made vows to you that I have kept, Babusahib. Without question and without confusion, I have been loyal even though this decision was as forced on me as it was on you. I have watched you become hers in EVERY WAY, but I cannot honor this marriage when you are about to have a child with her. She's also my sister and the thought of being in a marriage with you while raising your child with her goes against everything our pheres were about. I am no saint, I can't stand it. So...I can no longer do it. There is no official account of our wedding, so we can call it quits here. I just need your word that you will not follow me or try to contact any member of my family. I want nothing more to do with the Tripathis or the Chaturvedis anymore. I am done. I want to end this. Permanently.

Aditya half-whispered as he stared at the carpet: You don't love me anymore.

It was not a question.

Imlie: None of my vows require me to be at your side after there has been infidelity. I was not beholden to you as soon as you married Malini Didi. I forgave all that thinking your faith our marriage was not there then. But I am not tolerant enough to accept a child, that too with my sister!

Aditya felt disgusted with himself.

Aditya begged: My family loves you. Even if you will not stay for me, please stay for them. I want to provide for you. I swear, I will not expect anything from you.

Imlie: I will provide for myself, thank you. I loved your family too, while I could. But they are not merely angry with me, Babusahib. Your mother and aunt treated me like trash after they found out who I was and I took it thinking it was just anger because we hid our wedding. But that anger was never directed towards you even though it was your decision to remarry and not tell anyone about me. They now want things to be okay between you and Malini Didi and they are happy there is now a child. It doesn't matter to them that this qualified as marital rape! Like you, they don't want to deal with uncomfortable truths. Malini Didi is a high status bahu that makes them look good in society. (She sighed) I know you are fair, Babusahib, but I don't have to put up with any of this! I may be poor, but not in self-worth. Your mom asked me to establish a relationship with your child and become a mom to him/her. I don't want to dislike the child, but why should I become a mother to my sister's child with my husband!? Did I bring any of this on? Because her attitude suggests that the burden is on me. I am 19! I was 18 when I crushed my dreams to marry you. You are the one who married Malini Didi despite being married. Would any of your family be okay with you becoming dad to my child from an infidelity, rape or not? Could I go off, marry someone, and then come back? Do you really think it is fair that I will be relegated to rakhel in this house while babysitting your child with my sister!?

Aditya checked his anger: Don't use that word.

Imlie: That is what I will become, if I stay here. You deleted the video and I decided the child must be legal. We both decided what was right for the innocent child and against our own best interests. So your legal marriage will stand. The last part of this decision is only for me to leave. I would have to leave even if your marriage never fell apart. We were always doomed, you and I. This is the inevitable end. (She wiped away tears) We both made mistakes, Babusaheb, I know that. Don't blame yourself alone, I know I don't. It was a mistake to hide in the shack, it was a mistake to hide the marriage, and it was a mistake to think we could go back and start anew when your marriage to Malini Didi fell apart. It will be a mistake to think we can co-parent a child with Malini Didi.

Aditya did not know where he got the strength to respond: And...what about love, Imlie? What about the fact that I only got to know love when I was with you? Or that you, until yesterday, loved me?

Imlie, rigidly: You are a father-to-be. You have to make compromises, if your feelings distract you. This is not about you, me, or Malini Didi anymore, so your manmani about being in love with me over her really has no place in this saga now. Think only about your child and swear on my head that you will not pursue me again (she grabbed his hand and put it on her head). I want you to be the kind the of dad that my father never got to be for me. Promise me that there will not be another Imlie from this household.

Aditya nodded blankly.

The bell rang.

Imlie startled: Pari is here. I will say goodbye.

Aditya spat out: Pari.

Imlie, angrily: Yes, Pari. He will pick me up and drop me to the college I transferred to; don't follow me. Swear it.

Aditya closed his eyes: You are right, you are young and you don't deserve to be burdened with the problems of life in this way. I am sorry I failed to be a good husband to you and I am sorry on behalf of my family's mistreatment of you. (He choked) I will not bother you any longer.

Imlie: It's our society, Babusahib. The fault is always the woman's and the mothers make sure of it, don't blame yourself for that. Just live a good life and do right by your child. Forget me. I wish you nothing but the best.

Aditya took a deep breath and stood up: You are so logical now. I don't see or hear the love for me you once had. Rightly...of course. I don't deserve it. I am a man who failed you in every step of the way. You have showed more maturity in this marriage than I ever have. I am sorry I could not be a better man for you.

Imlie turned abruptly and walked out of his room.

Comment and let me know your thoughts on the pieces so far. Do you want to read more about Imlie taking flight?

Beautiful but very painful. I really want Adi and Imlie to be a happily married ever after couple in the show.

Originally posted by: Goddy2010

Beautiful but very painful. I really want Adi and Imlie to be a happily married ever after couple in the show.

These two are just the establishment parts. Wait and watch. Thanks for reading and commenting.

It's too good please continue your story is extraordinary

This reads very beautifully - for once I wish they actually had a discussion on these lines rather than have the current dance they're having. Hoping to read your FF to fulfill that wish of mine😆.

Originally posted by: s_kavita28

It's too good please continue your story is extraordinary

Thank you. It was a lot of mess to untangle. I wish the makers made Imlie stand up for herself more.

Please continue i would really like to read it. very nicely put out our thoughts and deepest desire 👏

beautiful and addictive. very sorrowful but bringing out the real emotions and difficult steps that is taken as required.

Amazing please continue to write, really waiting to read ahead. 👏